Arctic shelter life raft



Oct. 20, 1959 R BICKNELL ErAL 2,908,919

ARCTIC SHELTER LIFE RAFT Filed June 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

ROBERT BIC/(HELL, mama/w a. LEHBERGER, ALA/V B. WALKER INVENTORS.

Oct. 20, 1959 R. BiCKNELL ET AL ARCTIC SHELTER LIFE RAFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6; 1956 ROBERT BIC/(HELL;

RAYMOND 6. LEHBERGER,

ALAN B. WALKER,

INVENTORS.

BY $1M.

Oct. 20, 1959 R. 'BICKNELL ETAL ARCTIC SHELTER LIFE RAFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 6, 1956 mam,

TORS

United States Patent Oflice ARCTIC SHELTER Robert B ue Wash g on, D-C. n Ray ond I Lehberger, North Blainfield, and Alan B; Walker,

ApplicationJune. 6, 1956, SerialiNo. 589,784..

7. cla ms. .01. 9 .11

This invention relates to an inflatable device thatmay be utilized as a life raft, as a shelter forprotection against the ice and the cold Weather such as may be. foundin the Arctic region, or as a combined life raft and shelter.

Although the invention is described as being useful-in providing protection against the ice and the cold weather such as may be found in the Arctic region, it .is tobe understood that the invention may be utiliged asprotec tion against any kind of weather anywhere in thewonld.

The invention is particularly useful in Arctic regions, however. For example commercial aircraft flying between the West Coast of t heUnited States and continental Europe now fly a direct polar route over-the- Artie region between these destinations. Additio ally, military bases and, weather stations have been estalglished in the Arctic region and journeys on, or flights. over, the ice and water in'this region are mede periodiealln. to collect data and. scientific information,

Aircraft of the various and. navalair .reseue services and commercial aircraft which. operate over large bodies of water carry life, rafts of theYinflatable type which, when tossed. from a. plane, are of the infl ab type which, when, tossed from a plane, are aut inflated so that they may be boarded. from the .w n by survivors of abandoned, aircraft or shipsandnpied pending ultimate rescue. Such, inflatable-fiends usually are constructed. with two superposed main buoyancy tubes around. the r per p ery n have, m an -1 e ect a peripheral canopy and a roof thatproyideshelter from the sun and, function asa, spray shield. 'Ihistypeof lprotective covering, hQWever, will not afford the protection necessary for survival against the cold weatherin the Arctic region.

It i b e o t e pr ent. nv nt o t rm is e a multipu pose in a a ulsm e that a b u i iz as a i r t au lo as. a he er by surv vo s in the Am i n e hey on Wat r l udas w rc It is a further object of the inuentionf-tojpreyide a u p urosc infla ab e lif le a d o s e -ha in an nfl b e amew rk r upporting the. aft nd fl {s e e ng an py o r the af l 1 It is a still further object of the invention. po proyide a multipurpose inflatable life raft and/or shielteryh ving an inflatable framework for supporting-the raft and the sheltering can py over the raft, and separably inflatable insulating floor, a d w s tha oon butel to the Structural support; of the structure when inflated.

It is; another object of the invention to. provide a multipurpose inflatable life raft and/ or shelter havinga novel inflatable door 'and that providea "weather-tight closure.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a multipurpose inflatable life raft and/or shelter having adjustable ventilating means.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a multipurpose inflatable life raft and/or shelter having a plurality of boarding ramps that, by virtue of waterpockets located at their outer. extremity, provide a large stabilining moment.

Other and further objectsof the present invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following detailed' specification, appended claims, and accompanying dIaWingS, win;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying h n e on ho n do s in e u y pen-r tlon;

.Fig 2 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken, on line 33 of Fig. 2; i r

Fig. 4 is an. enlarged vertical sectional view through the ventilating hatch taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. vertical sectional view through a win w of he. t tu e t ken n ne 55 of Fig- Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on i 6o 2; a d

Fig. 7 an enlarged vertical sectional view through the exhaust pipe opening showing the exhaust pipe sleeve in the extended position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a

.mul ip rs e a abl t uc re c p ble of bein e t ni 1 g ban f r bberizeda r c or other s r m te fi i nds to the s r er o woatlia n m mbers. The crotch tape serves. to join the two members 9 to r n or he t a hmen or junc on o t t members.

The above-described bottom section of the structure functions as a base when the. structure is set on ice or snow, or on the ground, and provides buoyancy when the structure isused as a raft. The floor 12 is set above the baseline of tube 11 to permit the tube to immerse into the water when the structure is used as a raft. The attachment Pe f. t 19 1 owe er, is pp cia y lower than is used for .the floor of conventional rafts" to provide more headroom within the inflated structure. Placing the floor 1; above the base line of the tube 11 serves to aid the stability of the structure when it is in the water, andalso serves to entrap air in the space between the floor of the structure and the water or ice .Alan Walker, Serial No. 552,014. filed December 9,

The boarding ramp, however, when installed, is an integral part of the bottom section of the structure and is, therefore, briefly described herein.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the boarding ramp has a supporting structure comprising a pair of spaced inflatable structural beams 18 attached to and communicating with the inflatable tube 11. An air-tight fabric deck member 19 secured to the beams 18 extends from its connection 20 with the tube 11 along the upper side of the beam 18 and is carried around the outboard end thereof and returned a distance on the underside of the beam 18. Handles may be attached. to the upper surface of the deck member 19 as shown in Fig. 2. The end 21 of the fabric deck member 19 is bent up and secured to form a water ballast pocket 22. Ports 23 are provided for entry of water into the pocket 22. When the structure is utilized as a raft, the water ballast. pocket 22 will fill with water. This ballast pocket located at the extremity of the rigid boarding ramp, will cause the ramp to function in the manner of an'outrigger and will provide a large stabilizing moment. Further stability of the raft is obtained by attaching a plurality'of water ballast buckets 24 to the underside of the tube 11.' Ports 25 in the buckets 24 are provided for entry of water into the buckets. r s I Above the bottom section of the structure is an insulating superstructure, shown generally at 26, having an inflatable supporting framework comprising a circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member 27 mounted upon, and attached to, the tube 11, and a plurality of upwardly bowed inflatable structural ribs 28 that communicate through an orifice 29 at their lower ends with the tubular member 27 and through an orifice 30 at their upper ends with an inflatable annular tube 31.

An inflatable fabric insulating canopy wall composed of a plurality of individual segmental walls 32 is mounted on the supporting framework. Each wall 32 is composed of a first ply inner fabric 33 and a second ply outer fabric 34 interconnected by a multiplicity of spaced tie threads 35 of predetermined length and is connected at its lower end to the upper surface of the tubular member 27, at its upper end to the annular tube 31, and at each of its sides to the structural ribs 28 by crotch tape 36 or by other means well known in the art.

A plurality of inflatable supports 37 defined by walls 38 communicate at their lower ends with the annular tube 31 through an orifice 39. The bottom of the walls 38 are secured to the upper surface of the tube 31 by means such as crotch tape 40. An annularly shaped ventilating hatch 41 consisting of a first ply bottom fabric 42 and a second ply top fabric 43 interconnected by a multiplicity of spaced tie threads 44 of predetermined length is mounted on the upper periphery of the walls 38 of the supports 37 and is secured thereto by means such as crotch tape 45. The port 46 formed in the central portion of the ventilating hatch 41 may be utilized as an observation port, or as an access for external radio antennae, and is covered in the manner hereinafter described.

The bottom section and the insulating superstructure 26 are each provided with separate inflation means. As shown in Fig. 1, a pneumatic inflation -assembly,'shown generally at 47, is provided for inflating the tube 11 and the boarding ramp structural beams 18 of the bottom section 10. A second pneumatic inflation assembly, shown generally at 48, is provided for inflating the tubular member -27, the canopy structural ribs 28, the annular tube 31 and the supports 37. An inflation valve 49 is provided for separately inflating the floor 12. Flaps (not shown) having fastening means of any type Well known in the art may be provided as a protective covering for the inflation valve 49 and other inflation valves hereinafter'described. Each segmental canopy Wall 32 is also provided with an inflation valve 50 so that these walls may be inflated separately. When the structure is inflated, the tubes, beams, ribs and members that form the supporting framework are inflated first, thus allowing the structure to stand and provide protection against wind, snow or rain while the insulating floor and canopy Walls are being inflated. The floor and canopy walls, when inflated, contribute to the structural support of the structure. I I

While thQflOOIlaHd canopy walls are described as be ing separately inflatable, it is to be understood that, if desired, either or both may be connected to the supporting framework so that they can be inflated by the respective inflation assembly. As shown in Fig. 6, there is no connection between the tube 11 of the bottom section 10 and the tubular member 27 of the superstructure 26. Therefore, in the event of a puncture, at least one portion will remain turgid.

The inflation assemblies 47 and 48 may be identical or may differ only in size. Each assembly comprises a gas or air pneumatic storage cylinder 51, a pressure regulator 52 and an aspirator 53. A type of pressure regulator that may be used in the inflation assembly is disclosed in the co-pending application of James V. Crawford et al., Serial No. 507,356, filed May 2, 1955, and a type of aspirator that may be used in the inflation assembly is disclosed in the co-pending application of James V. Crawford et al., Serial No. 507,355, now Patent Number 2,772,829. It is to be understood, of course, that various other regulators and aspirators may be used in the inflation assembly, the mechanism in the above applications being used only by way of example. The inflation assembly 47 is mounted on a base 54 secured to tube 11 of the bottom section, and the inflation assembly 48 is mounted on a base 55 secured to tubular member 27 of the superstructure 26. The base 54 and the base 55 are hingedly connected at 56 to aid in packing the structure in a compact bundle.

A cover 57 for the port 46 is connected by a hinge 58 to the top fabric surface 43 of the hatch 41. The cover 57 is circular in shape and is comprised of a first ply bottom fabric 59 and a second ply top fabric 60 interconnected by a multiplicity of spaced tie threads 61 of predetermined length. To maintain the cover 57 in the closed position, a strap 62 is fixedly secured at one end to the bottom fabric 59 of the cover 57 and is provided at its other end with a fastening means 63 that may be releasably connected to a co-operating fastening means 64 secured to the bottom fabric 42 of the ventilating hatch 41. Flexible tube 65 communicating with the interior of the cover 57 through an orifice 66 in the top fabric 60, and a flexible tube 67 communicating with the interior of the hatch 41 through an orifice 68 in the top fabric 43 are joined intermediate their ends by a sleeve 69 to provide for free passage of air between the cover 57 and the hatch 41. An inflation valve 70 is provided for separately inflating the hatch 41 and the cover 57. Curtains 71 extending between the supports 37 and secured at the top to the hatch 41 and at the bottom to the annular tube 31 are provided with slide fasteners 72 so that they may be opened or closed as ventilation requirement dictates. To obtain a natural draft ventilation, a plurality of adjustable ventilators 73 of any type well known in the art are installed in the canopy walls 32 near the tube 27.

A door 75 located above the boarding ramp 17 is attached to the outer fabric 34 of the canopy wall 32 by a hinge 76. The door 75 is comprised of a center panel 77 constructed in the samemanner as the canopy wall and formed to fill an opening 78 in the canopywall when inflated, an outer peripheral ring 79 attached to and extending peripherally beyond the outer face of the panel 77, and an inner peripheral ring 80 attached to and extending peripherally beyond the inner face of the panel 77. The center panel 77 and theouter peripheral ring 79 freely communicate with each other and are jointly inflated by an inflation valve 81 before the door is closed. The inner peripheral ring 80 is separately inflated by means of an inflation valve 82 after the door is closed.

When the inner ring is thus inflated after the door is be installed in the canopy while 32: and the center panel 77 of the door 75-. Asshowir in: 5'; the windows in the canopy waflls 32 comprise spaced window panes such as an outer translucent or transparent plastic pane 84 secured to the outer fabric 34 of the wall and an inner translucent or transparent plastic pane 85 secured to the inner fabric 33 of the wall. The window in the panel 77 of the door 75 may be similarly constructed. This type of construction serves to entrap air between the plastic panes 84 and 85 and thus contribute to the thermal-ly insulating properties of the structure. A hole 86 is provided in the outer pane 84 to serve as a drain for condensation and as a vent.

Life lines 87 are looped around the outside and the inside of the structure to serve as hand holds for the survivors in the water and those inside the structure.

The subject structure may also be utilized as a utility shelter for military operations or by scientific expeditions. When s'o utilized, it may be desirable to install a stove to supply heat within the structure. 'An asbestos or other fireproof fabric sheet (not shown) may therefore be secured to the floor 12 and an asbestos fabric chimney sleeve 88 is provided in an opening 89 in the canopy wall 32 for the chimney. The sleeve 88 may normally be stored between an outer patch 90 removably secured to the outer fabric 34 of the wall 32 and an inner patch 91 removably secured to the inner fabric 33 of the wall 32. When it is desired to install the chimney, the patches 90 and 91 are removed, and the sleeve 88 is extended outwardly and secured at 92 to the chimney by drawstrings or other means well known in the art. To secure the structure to the ground, when utilized as a utility structure, a plurality of rings 93 are secured to the structural ribs 28 for the attaching of guys (not shown) affixed to ground stakes.

The subject structure is ideally suited to be packaged in a container which is attached by a static line toan aircraft. The static line may open the package in the drop and initiate the inflation. A sling 94 attached at each end to the canopy wall at 95 and at the center to a ring 96 is provided for the attachment of a parachute or an air drogue (not shown) that functions to retard the fall of the structure and insure that the raft will land right side up. The Well rounded canopy walls, however, provide the raft with a semi-self-ri'ghting characteristic should it become overturned. The curved up per surface additionally provides the structure with a good aerodynamic form for resisting wind loads.

We claim:

1. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: an inflatable bottom section having a circumferentially disposed inflatable tube and an inflatable insulating floor; an inflatable insulating superstructure fixedly mounted on the bottom section, the superstructure having an inflatable supporting framework and an inflatable insulating canopy wall connected to the supporting framework, the canopy wall having an opening forming an entryway; and an inflatable door for the entryway, the door having means forming a tight seal around the periphery of the entryway when inflated.

2. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: an inflatable bottom section having a circumferentially disposed inflatable tube and an inflatable insulating floor; an inflatable insulating superstructure fixedly mounted on the bottom section, the superstructure having an inflatable supporting framework, an inflatable insulating canopy wall connected to the supporting framework and a separately inflatable door hingedly connected to the canopy wall and comprising a center panel formed to fill an opening in the canopy wall, an outer peripheral rill 1gattached to the outer face of the panel, and an inner peripheral ring attached' to the inner face of the panel, the inner and outer peripheral rings overlapping .eaehsideof the' canopy wall when inflated, to form a tight seal around the opening. a

3. Inaa, inflatable. structure having annopening in an inflatable wall, an. inflatable doorcomprising a center panel formed to the opening, a peripheral ring at- -t ached; tothe outerface of the'center panel," aiid a peripheral ring attached to the inner face of the center panel, the peripheral rings overlapping the edges of the panel and contacting the wall on each side of the panel when inflated to hold the door in place and form a tight seal around the opening.

'4. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: a framework of inflatable structural beams having suflicient strength when inflated to support the structure; an inflatable floor and inflatable canopy walls attached to the inflatable structural beams and having entry doors and windows, the floor, canopy, walls, doors and windows throughout the structure having an inner and outer surface formed to define a substantially fluid-tight chamber for retaining an insulating layer of air therebetween.

5. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: an inflatable bottom section having a circumferentially disposed inflatable tube and an inflatable floor composed of two fabric plies formed to define a substantially fluidtight chamber therebetween; a first inflating means, in cluding a first pneumatic storage cylinder, for inflating the bottom section; an inflatable insulating superstructure including an inflatable supporting framework comprising a circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member fixedly mounted on the circumferentially disposed inflatable tube of the bottom section, a plurality of bowed structural ribs communicating at their lower ends with the circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member, and a plurality of inflatable canopy wall sections composcdof two fabric plies formed to define a substantially fluid-tight chamber between the bowed structural ribs; and a second inflating means, including a second pneumatic storage cylinder for inflating the superstructure.

6. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: an inflatable bottom section having a circumferentially disposed inflatable tube and an inflatable insulating floor; an inflatable insulating superstructure including an inflatable supporting framework comprising a circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member fixedly mounted on the circumferentially disposed tube of the bottom section, a plurality of bowed structural ribs communicating at their lower ends with the circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member, an inflatable annular tube communicating with the bowed structural ribs at their upper ends, and an inflatable insulating canopy Wallattached to the supporting framework; means for inflating the bottom section and superstructure; and ventilating means including an adjustable vent in the canopy walls for admitting a supply of fresh air to the structure and an inflatable insulating ventilator hatch disposed on the annular tube and having adjustable means for controlling the flow of air from the structure.

7. A multipurpose inflatable structure, comprising: an inflatable bottom section having a circumferentially disposed inflatable tube and an inflatable insulating floor; an inflatable insulating superstructure including an inflatable supporting framework comprising a circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member fixedly mounted on the circumferentially disposed tube of the bottom section, a plurality of bowed structural ribs communicating at their lower ends with the circumferentially disposed inflatable tubular member, an inflatable annular tube communicating with the bowed structural ribs at their upper ends, and an inflatable insulating canopy wall attached to the supporting framework; an insulating ventilating hatch disposed to be supported on the annular 7 tube, said ventilating hatch including a central port for ventilating said structure and an inflatable insulating coNer hingedly connected to the ventilator hatch and adapted to close the central port; and means for inflating the inflatable structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,240 Zubryd July 20, 1920 8 Sturtevant May 16, 1950 Phane May 26, 1953 FO REI GN PATENTS j Great Britain'e Mar. 15, 1950 GreatrBritain June 4, 1952 

